#8 Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)- £75.8 million
Umtiti is the second most valuable defender on the most recent CIES list, behind only Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk. The Frenchman’s stock has grown exponentially over the last few years, and since his move to Barcelona from Lyon in 2016, he has become one of the top defenders in the world. With Gerard Pique seemingly on the decline, Umtiti is now Barca’s best defender, and he is crucial to the side.
The 25-year-old looks to be at his best this season, and has built on winning the World Cup for his country in the summer. He is someone who fits the way Barcelona play as well. He is excellent defensively, strong in the tackle, reads the game well, but he is also more than capable of playing out of defence and starting attacks.